This handbook was primarily developed to aid FWS and NMFS biologists implementing the section 7 consultation process. The purpose of the handbook is to provide information and guidance on the various consultation processes outlined in the...

This is a fact sheet describing the requirements of federal agencies under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act to ensure their activities in no way adversely affect any endangered or threatened species, or any species proposed for the...

This glossary is intended to give the meaning of key words but does not necessarily provide a legal definition or thorough description. To locate the legal definitions of Endangered Species Act terms, please see the end of this document.

The purposes of the Endangered Species Act are to provide a means for conserving the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend and a program for the conservation of such species. The ESA directs all Federal agencies to...

Endangered and/or threatened; Partnerships; Recovered; Work of the Service; Policies; Military

Endangered species management on military lands remains a challenging and critical focus for DoD’s resource managers. Successful endangered species management ultimately depends upon the resource manager’s skills and expertise, as well as their...

This publication is is the result of a Fish and Wildlife Countermeasures Coordination Project undertaken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The goals of the project include the development of national “best practices” using...

Critical habitat designation identifies those areas that are essential to the survival and recovery of the Mexican spotted owl, and describes those physical and biological features within those areas that require special management considerations...

Version 1.3 was updated June 2010. Recovery planning has evolved considerably over the years as we have learned more about the root causes of endangerment and what it takes to recover species. Species’ biological needs and responses to specific...